be God the euerlasting Creator and preferring his Gospell before the preaching of the Law moke away the obiections that are made This is the principall proposition of this Epistle and all tend vnto this end that the Iewes to whom he writes leaning Iudaisme should put their hope assuredly in Christ In the third and fourth chapters hee preacheth Christ to be much more excel lent than Moses by making comparison By and by he applyeth the time of the Gospell vnto that which is in the ninth Psalme called to day with an horrible threatning by their example whoe for their incredulity perished in the wildernesse being shut out from the rest in the land of Canaan In the fift sixt and seuenth he begins to describe Christ to be a priest by comparing him with Aron and with Melchisedech In the ende of the fift chapter for the slothfulnesse and dulnesse of the Iewes a dangerous dissession whose description he seemeth willingly to passe In the sixt chapter it seemeth that a place of repentance is denied to an offender to strike a terror into the obstinate In the seuenth chapter he describeth commendeth Melchisedech in which he extolleth the priesthood of Christ In the eight nine and ten he shewes by many graue arguments Christ to be the onely priest and the onely sacrifice for our sinnes which he prefers before al Legal sacrifices calling it the newe Testament out of the 13. chapter of Ieremy Afterwardes he reckoneth the part◠of the Tabernacle chapter 9. that is to wit The gate or portch the holy place and the holy of holiest with their significations In which figures he applies the bloud of Christ purifying the consciences He cals Christ the Mediator of the New testament signifieng the bloud of Christ to be powred out in the new Testament for the remission of sinnes Last of all by repetition hee amplifyeth the same that is to wit The sacrifices of Christe with the sacrifices Leuiticall Psal 39 and 31. chapt At length hee concludes this whole place by an exhortation to settle confidence in the bloud of Christe and performes the duties of mutuall loue by good workes making preparation to the chap. following In the 11 12 and 13 he commendes by examples the faith of the Patriarkes and of other saintes of the old testamant Then hee ioyneth an exhortation for the fruits of Faith patience discipline peace sanctification true repentance obediēce towards the word of the Gospel not only bringing the example of Christ but also threateninges out of the olde Testament In the last chap he reckoneth a heape of good workes with an exhortation to auoide false doctrine and with an exhortation to confesse the true doctrine of Iesus Christ to giue thankes The Epistle of Iames. SOme men thinke that this Epistle is not written by Iames the Apostle which was slaine by Herod not onely because of that place cited out of Genesis concerning Abraham for the Iustification of works contrary to the analogie of Faith but also for other places taken out of the epistle of Peter and Paule and of this Epistle mixed heere and there It is not a methodical epistle as other saye neyther doth it containe one certaine matter but as a man may say dissolued or vnloynted scopes that is to say Sentences not agreeing in order amongst themselues And the summe is that hee vrgeth the Law and good workes against secure carelesse men and boasters of faith with our good workes There are fiue chapters which are thus to be discerned In the first chapt he proponeth parcicularly these 8. sentences 1 Patience is to be shewed in aduersity 2 Diuine wisedome to bee desired of God 3 Wee muste beleeue without wauering 4 We must vse riches rightly 5 And suffer tentations which do rise from concupiscence 6 To heare the heauenlye worde diligently 7 And do good workes being the effect of the word 8 To liue in true religion In the second chapter he handleth onely two thinges the one that poore Christians be not contemned seeing that faith in Iesus Christ dooth not suffer the exception of persons the other concerning good workes by the which faith towards God and our neighbour is shewed as this place is a collation betwixt man and man not betwixt God man where faith only iustifieth whe he faith shew me thy faith by thy works If any do not thus vnderstand Iames. but wil wrest this his sentence to Iustification which auailes before God hee takes away the analogye of faith And the Epistle of Paule to the Romanes which seeing it is absurd the sentence of Iames may admit a profitable interpretation and the analogie of Faith Otherwise places or examples out of Genesis or of the booke of Ioshua concerning iustification might bee cited directly against natural sence of scripture concerning Iustification In the thirde chapter are also twoe places wel handled of the which one is the restraint of the toung that he teach not false doctrine which is to arrogate and vsurpe to himselfe magistracye in the holy scriptures aboue the holy ghost the true teacher and maister whose disciples are all true teachers in the church The other place is concerning the diuine wisdome which is in the doctrine Lawe and Gospel the very light of faith in our mindes and the beginner of obedience agreeing with the law of god according to this saying Thy worde is a lanterne vnto my feet In the fourth chapter there are forewarninges concerning vertues in euery commandement of the Tables as in one knot or heape bound together 1 Concerning the auoiding of contention 2 Of pleasures or desires 3 Concerning prayer 4 The auoiding of adultery 5 Of pride and humility 6 Concerning obedience towardes God and so forth vnto the end of the chapter In the fift chapter he chiefly inueyeth against those that doe abuse their riches I hen hee exhorteth the godly to patience and sufferance and hee dehorts them from the custome of swearinge Then hee perswadeth to haue a care of the weake and to pray one for another Last of all he exhortes to prayer and he commends it by the example of Elias In the end he shewes the true effect of conuersion The first Epistle of PETER THis Epistle is truely Apostolicall as of him which being asked of Christ who he was answered Thou art Christ the son of God Mathew 16. Againe to whom shal we goe thou hast the words of eternall lyfe Iohn 6. For it hath a sweet sauour of the same confession with constancy and sincerity in Faith For he confesseth Christ syncetely taking away saluation from our merits and deliuering the true knoledge of Christ in which he would haue al the Gentiles that are conuerted vnto whom he writes to goe forwarde constantly and to increase from day to day so as they may answer in their liues maners and conuersations to the Gospell of what state soeuer they bee as those whom he numbreth 1 The Subiects 2 The Seruants 3 The Women 4 The
To whom shal wee goe thou hast the words of eternall life Concerning the holy Bible and bookes of the old and new Testament THE Byble or Bibles although generally it signifieth a book yet more particularly by the holie Bible is the bookes of the old and new Testament called holie for the holy Diuinity and doctrine of God are seuered from the wisedome of the world and brought from heauen and a Bible because many bookes are therein contained The first whereof is Genesis the last the Reuelation The first deuision of the BIBLE THe holy Bible is deuided into the olde and new Testament The olde Testament containeth those bookes which were written before Christ was borne as the bookes of Moses the Psalmes and the Prophets with som other which are in number 48. The new Testament comprehends those bookes which were set foorth after the birth of Christ As the bookes of the Gospelles and the Epistles with others which are in number 27. The 2. Diuision THe holy Bible is diuided into six parts in respect of so much as concerne the difference of the Bookes For some of the bookes of the Bible are Legall Historicall Doctrinall Propheticall Euangelicall and Epistolar 1 The siue bokes of Moses cald c. are Legall because the lawe is specially described in them 2 Historicall are those which simply containe Histories or thinges doone as are the bookes 1 of Iosua 2 of Iudges 3 of Ruth 4 of Kings 5 of Chron. 6 of Ezra 7 of Nehemiah 8 of Tobias 9 of Iudith 10 of Hester 11 of Machabees 12 of The acts of the Apostles 3 Doctrinall are those which containe some speciall doctrine for the edifying of the hearers as are the books 1 of Iob. 2 of Psalms 3 of Prouerbs 4 of Ecclesiast 5 Canticles 6 Wisedome 7 Iesus Sirach 4 Prophetical are those which were preached written by the Prophets wherof 4. are called the greater and the rest are called the lesser Prophets The greater because they write greater and longer bookes the lesser because they write lesser and smaller bookes 5 Euangelicall bookes are they which containe the Euangelicall stories of our Sauiour Christ set forth by the 4. Euangelists 6 Epistolar are the writinges and letters of the Apostles and specially of the apostle Paule The 3. deuision Some books of the Byble are Canonicall Apocrypha Canonicall bookes are those in which is preserued the authority of Ecclesiasticall oppinions Apocrypha or doubtfull bookes are those whose credit is doubted of and serue only for the instruction of the people not for confirming the opinions of the church such are the bookes 1 of Iudith 2 of Wisedome 3 of Tobia 4 of Iesus Sirach 5 of Baruch 6 of Machabees 7 of The fragments in Hest DaÌ„ All the rest are Canonicall bookes otherwise called Authenucall from whence the Canonicall and autenâ—call scripture hath his name and they are Canonicall which reade or expound the holy Scriptures Of the Bookes Legall or the 5. Bookes of Moses THe books of Moses haue their names in Greeke Pentatenchou of the numb of 5. because they are but 5. of the Hebrewes they are called 5. fiftes and they are ascribed to Moses either because Moses wrote them or because they containe the story of Moses in them and they are 5 1 Genesis 2 Exodus 3 Leuiticus 4 Numbers 5 Deuteronomy 1. Of Genesis GEnesis hath his name of begetting or of generation because it is a booke of the generation of the world both for the Creation of things and for the restoring of them after the floud It hath in it 50. Chapters and is diuided into sixe principall partes in regard of the sixe famous persons whose stories are set forth in Genesis 1. Adam is described from chap. 1 to cha 6 2. Noah from the 6 to the 12 3. Abram from the 12 to the 20 4. Isaac from the 20 to the 28 5. Iacob from the 28 to the 37 6. Ioseph from the 37 to the end of the book But Genesis in some containes 1 The Beginning of the world 2 The Deluge 3 The Burning of Sodom 4 The Destruction of Babell 5 The Deeds of the Patriarches 6 The Fall especially of mankind his restoring againe by the blessed seede of the woman that is Iesus Christ 2. Of Exodus EXodus is so called of going out because heere is described the going of the children of Israell out of Egypt as also the conuersion of many in the wildernesse wher the law was published because men knewe not what sinne was For then God gaue to his people the law of the ten commandements and after by Moses ordained Ceremoniall and Iudiciall lawes that Religion and gouernment might bee preserued among the Iewes In all which as in the building of the Tabernacle Christ was shadowed so the law is a schoolmaister vnto Christ The principal deuision of Exodus 1 From the first chap. to the 7 after thâ— description 1. of the birth 2. of the hiding 3. casting into the water 4. adoption 5 slight 6. mariage of Moses God giues 〈◊〉 commandement both of his restoring into Egypt and of his bringing the people oâ— Israell out of Egypt because they were oppressed with a harde bondage by Pharao which coÌ„mandmeÌ„t after long delay he doth execute In the midst of the 4. ch he goeth into Egypt and with his brother Aron goeth vnto K. Pharao reasoneth with him about the letting go of the people which is in the 6 ch 2 From the 7. chap to the 12 are described the ten plagues of Egypt as that 1 of Blood 2 of Frogges 3 of Lice 4 of Flies 5 of Mouen of cartel 6 Blanes 7 Haile 8 Locusts 9 Darknesse 10 death of the 1. born 3 From the 12 cha to the 16 is described the deliuerance of the people of Israell out of Egypt not without puisuing yet by the mightye power of God 4 From the 16 ch to the 20 is described the going forward of gods people thorow the desaâ—t their murmuring and Gods deliuerance with Mâ—nnâ— and Quaâ—les In the 20 chap. the â— commandementes are giuen to Moses 6 From the 21 to 25 Iudicial lawes are ordained 7 From the 25 to 32 are ordained lawes ecclesiastical or ceremoniall concerning the building of the Tabernacle 8 From the 32 chap. to 36 are the tables giuen of the ten commandements 9 From the 36 to the 40 chap is described the building of the Tabernacle 10 In the last chap. hamely in the 40 the erecting of the Tabernacle is described Thus much of the booke of Exodus 3. Of Leuiticus LEuiticus the third book of Moses is named of the tribe of I euy for the Priesthood of Aron which in this book is ordained with the lawes therof is appointed for the purging and eâ—pâ—ation of sin that it might signifie the true priest Christ Iesus the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world For for this cause were the Leuiticall Sacrifices the Leuitical hallowings
c. And hee teacheth that they are truely blessed of God which are ioyned with God and are vnited vnto him through religion and godlynes and also the lawfull vse of other things In the end hee reckens vp the inconuenience of olde age and the decay of all his strength that draweth nigh to death Therfore let euerie man liue in the feare of God let him faithfully performe his office and let him vse the thinges created of God to the glorie of God The booke of the Canticles THe 3. booke of Sal. whose Title is The Song of songs Salomon hath set foorth many songes to wit 105.3 King 4 but because that this song is more excellent thē the rest and more glorious it is called the song of songs and it contayneth secreete misteries vnder the Metaphors of the bridegrome and the Bride of Christ and of his Church or of all the godly For though the verse be thank of giuing in which thāks are giuen to God because he hath adorned the common weale of Israell with great benefits to wit with a king and priest Yet he shadoweth the kingdome of Christ for whom all men doth giue thanks vnto God that here haue fought a good fight to whom is appointed a crowne of righteousnesse in heauen whiles they are ingrasted with their spouse eternally Because it cannot be deuided into parts since that thorow 8. chap there is a certain perpetual speech between the bridegrome and the bride To conclude this book containeth most excellent and particular matter 1 Concerning the kingdome of God 2 Concerning the Ministery of his word 3 Concerning the variety of the gifts of the holy ghost 4 Concerning the perpetual felicity thorow Christ 5 Concerning the defence or protection of the highest 6 Concerning the Tranquility of the elect 7 Concerning the peace or quietnes of conscience The booke of Wisdome ALthough this booke by the title seemeth to bee Salomons yet it is ascribed to Philo a man most wise learned of the Iewes who was the embassador of the Iewes to the Emperor Caligula againste which tyrannous prince the like vngodly men Philo Iudeus seemeth to haue written this booke that it may wel bee called the Philosophy or the wisdome of Philo. The booke being very conuenient for our time He commendeth the word of God against sauagenesse and tyranny of the wicked who wil not fauour the word of God among their subiects euen as Caligula did interdict his religion among the Iewes But thou shalt obserue that the word of God in this booke is called Wisedome and this booke to be the interpretation of the first commandement whence all wisdome doth flow Furthermore the chapters of this booke are 22. which are thus deuided 1 From the beginning vnto the 6 cha he maketh a comparison betwixt the righteousnes of the godly the cogitations of the wicked 2 Betwixt the goodnesse of the godly and the councell of the wicked 3. Betwixt the simplicity of the godly and the tyranny of the wicked 4. Betwixt the Martyrdome of the faithfull and the vnhappinesse of Insidels 5 Betwixt the constancie reward and felicity of the godly the condemnation of the wicked 2 From the 6 chap vnto the 10 hee layeth downe graue exhortations in which he exhorteth wicked men to embrace wisedom that is to saye with penitency and repentance where he sheweth that wisedome is to be gotten by faithful prayers 3 From the 10 vnto the 16 he commēdeth wisedome by the example of the Patriarches and by the sundry benefites and myracles of God towardes his people and against Idolatry and impiety whose cursse he sets downe with a derision and detesting of them by praising Gods mercy From the 16 chap vnto the ende of the booke againe he compares the righteousnesse and the rewards of the godly with the vnrighteousnesse and punishmentes of the wicked by bringing an example concerning the destruction of the Egyptians So much concerning this booke out of the which many Ecclesiasticall songes are taken out The booke of Iesus the Sonne of Syrach THis book thus far is called Ecclesi that is to say as some men doe interpret an Ecclesiastical discipline much vsed yet not accounted amongst the canonical books It is called by proper name Iesus Syrach frō the author as the preface doth shew he liued almost after all the Prophets in the last part before the comming of Christ in the flesh A godly man and learned but of the schole of the Egyptians comming forth in to light did publishe this booke gathered out of the writing of many learned men The booke is admirable and very necessary and profitable for the vse of the common people where a Citizen or a housholder may learne godlinesse honesty prudence after what sort he must behaue him selfe 1. towardes God 2 towardes Gods word 3 towardes his ministers 4 towardes his parents 5 towardes his wise and Children 6 towardes his owne body 7 towards his seruances 8 towards his possessions 9 towardes his neighbours 10 towardes his friendes and enemies 11 towardes magistrates and lastly towardes al menne◠〈◊〉 This booke may worthily be called a booke of domesticall discipline But seeing that it cannot bee profitablie denided by Chapters because it is not a booke written in parts orderly but gathered out of the bookes of many doctors and heaped vp consusedly euen as Bees do gather their hony out of diuers flowers it is sufficient to shew what it doth containe generally 1 First it containeth prouerbiall sentences and darke similitudes so as in this respect Iesus Syrach seemeth to be a follower or an Imitator of Salomon 2 Furthermore he poureth our and singeth certain excellent prayers and hymnes vnto God 3 It containeth certain peculiar ancient deuine histories of acceptable mē to god 4 Lastly he sheweth with what benefites it pleaseth God most plentifully to blesse his people and what euils he hath heaped vpon the wicked 5 In sum the booke is full of diuine wisedome The books of the Prophets THe prophetical books doe follow there are 16. Prophets of the which there are 4 great and 12 lesser of whome wee haue spoken before The sum of the doctrine of the prophets is this 1. They teach the kingdom of Christ to come 2. They expound the first commandment by many examples and histories 3. They comfort the afflicted consciences threaten the secure and carelesse ones 4. they condemne the Idolatry of the Iews which they call fornication It is Idolatry or spirituall fornication when men do worship the true God not according to the word and commandment of God but according to their owne good opinion as men say looke Iudges 7 17. 3 king 12 Ose 2. for that opinion is inhibited Deut 12. The booke of Esay ESay is the chiefe amongst the proph whose writings are extant next after Dauids For hee is ioyned to Christ not only in faith but also in neernesse of bloud He cals Christ the bud of the lord chap
Afterwardes thorough the kinges fauour he was promoted chieflie after he had interpreted the Dreame of the king Nabucadnezer Lastly hee continued there lxx yeeres liued vntill the reigne of Cirus king of Persia as appeares in the end of the 1. chapt and as it is manifested in the ninth chapter He was indued with such an excellent spirit that hee did not onely see the kingdome of Christ to come and to remaine for euer the destruction of other kingdomes but also he reckoned the yeares by weekes in which Christ should come He wholy applies himself in this that he might manifest the glorious and the eternall kingdome of Christ and hee foretelleth that besides him all the kingdome of the world are vaine and transitory Furthermore here is to be obserued that Daniel vseth the Chaldean toung vnto the beginning of the eight chapter Besides that the song of the three children The history of Susanna and of Bell as also the fable of the Dragon are not accounted or reckoned neither in the Caldean nor in the Hebtue toung neither yet haue testimony in holy scriptures that Daniell is the author of these bookes Therefore they are separated by the best translators of the Byble from the writing of Daniel and are altogither put by themselues hauing their owne proper vse to edification But in the booke of Daniel there are 1 Examples 1 2 4 5 6. chap. 2 Histories 2 3. 3 Reuelations 2 4. 4 Visions 7 8 10. 5 Miracles 3 6. 6 Sermons 4 5. 7 Prayers 9 8 Giuing of thanks 2. 9 Prophesies 9 11 12. The twelue chap. of Daniel are deuided one from another after this maner In the first chapter besides the history of Daniel and his fellowes being brought vp in the palace of the king of Babylon is set forth an admyrable example of godlinesse in Daniel howe hee learned amongst the Gentiles In the second chap. is tolde or rehearsed vnto the king the dreame and the interpretation thereof by Daniell concerning the 4. monarchies Where he sets foorth first the king of Babylon Secondly the king of Persia Thirdly the king of the Grecians Fourthly the king of the Romanes vnder whom the Iewes were to bee afflicted In the 3 chapter is described the kinges wicked Idolatry after his fall and the miraculous deliuerance of the three children from the fire In the four the chap is discribed besides the dreame concerning the tree by the which is set foorth the king of Babilon the punishment of the proude king the receiuing of him into fauour and the forgiuenes of his sinnes after his repentance In the fifth chap is described principally the tyranie of King Baltashar the sonne of king Nabucadnezer in the abusing of the holy vessells also afterwardes the punishment of his tyrannie by the losse of his kingdome and life In the sixth chap is described the deliuerance of Daniell and the punishmente of wicked men vnder Darius the king of the Babilonians In the 7. chaap Daniell seeeth a dreame of 4. beastes to whom the 4. Monarchies are compared In 8. chap he seeeth an other dreame concerning the afflictions vnder wicked Antiochus successor to the mightie prince Alexander the great In the ninth chap afterwardes he prayeth the almightie God for the releasement of the Iewes from the Babilonian captiuitie and being hearde is made certaine of the comming of the true Messiah by the declaration or manifestation of the Angell Gabriell accompted particulerly in seauentie weekes In the tenth chapt he writeth most singularly of Angells who cease not continually to fight against euill Angells for the defence of good and Godly menne and of Kingdomes In the 11. chap he prophecieth in order concerning the alteration of kingdomes doth also foretell vnder what monarchies the Iewes shoulde be afflicted before that the Messias came First of all that Darius king of the Medes is slaine by Alexander and after the death of Alexander the kingdome of the Grecians is diuided into fower kingdomes First into Asia Secondly into Syria Thirdlie into Egipt and fowerthlie into Greece last of all how Antiochus afflicted the people of Israell vntill hee was resisted and driuen away by Iudas Machabeus In the 12. chap. he prophecieth according to the cōmon translation of Antichrist vnder the name of Antiochus as Paul in the 2. of the Thessalonians 2. doth interprete this place Furthermore by the kingdome of Antioch he vnderstandeth not only the Papall sea of Rome but also the kingdome of the Turkes or Mahomet by whome the church of Christ towards the ende of the world should be vexed The song of the three children according to the common edition hath place in the third chapt of Daniel where all kind of Creatures are incited to laude and praise God The story of Susanna is comfortable because lying and slanderous menne at the length are disclosed and do suffer shame and such as are cleare and pure are deliuered The story of the I doll Bell doth at this day very plainly set forth the fraud and dedcipt of the Pope by the which they haue hitherto seduced poore miserable menne and yet doe still seduce and deceiue in many places Hitherto hath beene spoken of concerning the foure great Prophets Nowe followeth the twelue lesser Prophetes In which bookes they couet the increase and amplification of Christs kingdome which is their principall argument although by diuers and sundry reasons 1. Oseas prophesied against the ten tribes or kingdome of Israel 2. Ioell prophesied against the ten tribes or kingdome of Israel 3. Amos. prophesied against the ten tribes or kingdome of Israel 4. Micheas prophesied against the ten tribes or kingdome of Israel 5. Sophonias prophesied against Ierusalem 6. Ionas prophelied against Niniuy 7. Nahum against Babylon 8. Abacuc against Babylon 9. Abdias against Edom. 10. Haggei did vrge the people to reedifie the citty 11. Zacha did vrge the people to reedifie the citty 12. Malach did vrge the people to reedifie the citty 14 Or otherwise thus In the yeare before the birth of Christ 1 Ionas vnder Achab. 2 Abdi vnder Iereboā kings of Israell They liued prophesied in the year 496. 3 Esaias vnder Vsiah Ezekiah K. of Iuda at the time whē the x. tribes were caried to capt 4 Osea vnder Vsiah Ezekiah K. of Iuda at the time whē the x. tribes were caried to capt 5 Ioel. vnder Vsiah Ezekiah K. of Iuda at the time whē the x. tribes were caried to capt 6 Amos vnder Vsiah Ezekiah K. of Iuda at the time whē the x. tribes were caried to capt 7 Micheas A little after vnder Manasses the king of Iudah in the year 756 vpō the departure of Iuda 663. in the same captiuity of Iudah in the yeare 598. 8 Nahum A little after vnder Manasses the king of Iudah in the year 756 vpō the departure of Iuda 663. in the same captiuity of Iudah in the yeare 598. 9 Abacuc A little after vnder Manasses the king of
AN INTRODVCTION into the Bookes of the Prophets and Apostles Written by Peter Palladius Doctor of Diuinity and Byshop of Rochil Faithfully translated out of Latin into English By Edw. Vaughan LONDON Printed by G. S. for William Holme dwelling vpon Ludgate hil at the signe of the Lambe 1598. To the Right Honorable and vertuous Lady Elizabeth Russel Dowger HAuing duly and dutifully considered the powerfull prouidence of the Almighty I finde of al creatures in the earth that are humble and harmeles his Maiesty hath recommended vnto vs the Lambe to signifie Iesus Christ our Redeemer Of all Creatures in the Ayre that are mylde and chast he hath recommended vnto vs the the Doue to signifie the Holy ghost our sanctifier Euen so right Ho Lady of all bookes that are Authenticall and ancient and of all books that are profitable and true this maiestical Creator hath recommended to our studies for the ground-worke of Religion the book of his Couenant comprehending all things that euer was al things that now is al thinges that euer wil bee to come in heauen coÌ„cerning his Deity in earth coÌ„cerning his elect in hel concerning the damned There was two waights in the holy sanctuary the one called Stater a ballance to weigh all things beloÌ„ging to the common weale the other Siclum a sickle which was to wey al things belonging to the Temple shewing thereby that al things whatsoeuer do apertain either to gods glory or our good are to be mesured proportioned by the same book God said to Moses Take sweet spices pure Mirth Calamos c. then offer wherein also he plainly shewes that al kind of seruing his Maiestie all professions wherby we liue haue our beeing are excluded as things not sanctified according to this book And yet good Ho Lady mistresse I say most wise meÌ„ seeâ— that few do read it fewer regard it fewest of al do frame their liues according vnto it It is as rare a a thing to see noble womeÌ„ men of great place to haue the Bible in their hands to order their coÌ„uersation accordingly as to see a man of plesant possessions sel all he hath and giue it to the poor or to see a Camel go thrugh the eye of a needle By how much the more right Ho are you to be admyred and had as a wonder in this world for your darely endeuours after Diuinity for your knowledge in the holy tongs especially for your careful practise therof at home amongst your houshold and abroad amongest the distressed Saints As the people of the captiuity could not discerne the sound of the shout for ioy from the noyse of the weeping when the foundation of the teÌ„ple was laid euen so the greatnesse of your greese with continual study at home cannot be discerned from the greatnes of then ioy whome yee releeue abroad Your Ho hath constantly continued hitherto proceed I pray you Rule on right Ho good luck haue you good La in the name of the Lord. As the Iewes finished the Temple with weapons in one haÌ„d and nowels in the other hand so I pray god you may finish your faith vnto death with your booke moue hand your aliues in the other I must be forced to cease keeping the limitation of the Printer Only desiring your Ho to accept of this my labor which I offâ—r vnto your La before all others as a token of my humble duty Protesting that I haue to the vttermost of my power truly tâ—anslated the same not inteÌ„ding your Ho. instruction therein though the original be very profitable for the vnderstanding of the Bible but to instruct the ignorant multitude for whose sake I know your Ho wil patronize it The spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead sanctifie you and saue you London Ia 20 1597. Your Ho most humbly in the Lord. Edw. Vaughan An Introduction into the Books of the Prophets and Apostles written by Peter Palladius Doctor of Diuinitie and Bishop of Rochil translated out of Latine into English both faithfully and truely To the Reuerent and worthie man for learning and vertue Maister Peter Palladius doctor of Diuinity and Bishop of Rochil Philip Melancthon wisheth al happinesse IT is good for men oftentimes to call to minde those testimonies which eyther do compell them or allure them to consent vnto the doctrine which GOD hath especially deliuered vnto his church and doth perseuer therein of which sort are Myracles Antiquity a kind of doctrine a myraculous preseruation thereof amidst the ruines of Empyres the constancy of confessors and pledge of Gods spirite in the hart In the first place are reckoned Miracles which are wonders done beyond the course of nature for although the whole course of of nature be both a witnes and a warning of God yet when he preferred his doctrine especially that which goeth beyonde the sight of reason he added singuler deedes beyond the course of nature that it might be known not to be deuised by man but set foorth by the guider of nature and a most mightie creator being distinct froÌ„ the opinions of other nations which miracles do boast of certaine of our owne Miracles but there are other Miracles peculier to the church not to be imitated by any creature as raising the dead to stay the course of the sun the going backe of the sun a virgine to be with childe and others such like These God would haue vs to looke vpon that wee mighte bee throughlie perswaded that the doctrine is giuen by the very ruler of nature Among the miracles I also account the prophetes forsayinges of of Empires other affaires which the wisdome of no creature could certainlye forsee for in that the euent hath been aunswearable vnto them we must confesse that those forsayings were manifested by that diuine spirit that knoweth all thinges In the 2. place is antiquitie named which albeit that it doth not conuince as miracles do yet doth it alure the mindes of men for it is likely that God should from the begining haue laide open himselfe and haue been of this mind that amoÌ„gst men there shuld be alwaies some of whom he might be truelye known and not that al mankind as wretched shuld from the begining be made only for eternal destructioÌ„ Therfore comfortable is that former age and well is that spoken by Tertulian Whatsoeuer is most auncient is most true In like maner doth Iustinus and Clemens confute the Ethnickes that seeing the doctrine of the Church is more ancient then the opinions of the Ethnickes the oppinions that do gain-say it are to be reiected that the bookes of Moses are of more antiquitie then the writinges of the heathens the very order of times Empires do make manifest For no Nation hath a certain obseruation of yeeres from the begining as haue the Eclesiastical books the names of the heathens do also shew that the monuments of the former Church are more auncient for
heauinesse If with their speech they mixe fained sighings Crocodiles teares other legerdemaines deuised by Art amongst the which slanders strange positions doe specially increase their authority As Sebastian the Frenchmā reuiled the teachers and called a great volume of the sayings of the prophets apost which in shew seemed not to agre From whence he gathred that we must not iudge after the letter but as the spirit directs And in their Paradoxes they insert thinges to please people inlarge licentiousnesse Some there are which carry about with them the books of Sibils whence they take such Oracles as best befit theyr affections whom they flatter This kind of Idol priest must be taken heed of that rule is firmely to be held Thy word is a lantern vnto my feet And againe To the Lawe and the testimony And againe The Gospel is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth and those deceiuers are not to be harkened vnto which crye out that inspirations must else-where be sought for without thinking of the holy worde The saying of the sonne of God must bee helde fast whoe commandeth to preach repentance forgiuenes of sins in his name To this end let our teaching be applyed that repentance faith prayer and newe obedience may increase in vs by the meditation of Gods word and let god be praised with true duties according to that saying Fight thou a good fight holding fast faith a good conscience For traps may be laide by men by the aduancing of Inspiratiōs as we haue often seene By this meanes as by an inchantment the people discerned of seducers Therfore the sonne is sent to reueale vnto all creatures the secret and vnknown promise of reconciliation and that it beeing heard faith might be wrought in men and God might communicate himself with vs as Paule saieth Faith is by hearing and hearing by the word of God Wherfore these Idol priests of Cibel which withdraw mens mindes from the written word do reproch the son of God and take away both faith and al the exercise of faith If the writinges of the Prophets and Apostles were taken away so that euery hypocrite might lawfully brotch his counterfait Oracles from his inspirations as from his three footed seate howe great furies would ensue We haue seen example heerof in the Tragedies of Munster elswher Wherefore all holye teachers and hearers with al constancy ought to set themselues against these doting deuises Thy purpose and indeuour therefore O Peter I do commend that thou art an incourager of all the godly vnto reading As Paule saith Be conuersant in reading shewing the way to euery book declaring the arguments of them I woulde to God that our youth were accustomed rather to reading godly praier then to cauilles in disputing for when matters are well opened and no kind of false doctrine approoued there should be an end of disputing and it is a most true saying that to playe the Sycophant is too great diligence And whereas by the wisedome of your noble King and the diligence of godly teachers in your kingdom the studies of your youth are so ordered that no liberty to cauill is permitted vnto them You haue wel prouided for the peace of the church and their wits are accustomed to modesty All things though wel deliuered may be weakened if cauels may be regarded as in time past were those of the Pirchonians and the Academicks Therfore Paule doth strictly charge the Phillippians to hold faste the Canon or the rule of the word Now I beseech the Sonne of God our Lords Iesus Christ to keepe and to gouerne the churches in the kingdome of the Danes and in Germany and to make them to abide for euer one in him Farwell cal Feb. 1557. CONCERNING THE Authority of Gods word and holy Scripture THE authority of Gods worde and holy Scripture ought to be so great with all men that no one should doubt thereof but as we looke vp vnto heauen with our eies so should we thinke that the holy Scripture was brought from Heauen and as he that came from heauen is aboue all so the holy Scripture doth far exceed the doctrine and wisedome of man Christ asked the Pharisies of the doctrine of Iohn the Baptist whether it were from heauen or of men signifying that those two kinds of doctrin did greatly differ one from another the which also Christs disputation with Nichodemus maketh plaine Ioh. 3 The word of God is the holy Scripture of the old and new Testament which is called holy that is seuered from all other writings written by the holy Ghost brought from heauen And Christ deuideth the olde Testament into 3. partes in the last of Luke where hee saith that all thinges must be fulfilled whatsoeuer are written of the sonne of man In the 1 part Moses 2 part The Psal 3 part the Prop. The other partes doe belong to these The new Testament comprehends chiefly Gospels and Epistles which are the seals of the Gospell as I Paule thus subscribe thus I seale the Gospell of Matthewe with my bloud I Peter subscribe I Iohn c. The doctrine of the holy scripture is twoe fold The one The Lawe The other The Gospell But the holy Scripture is commended For the Sufficiencie Truth Profit Authority Dignitie Eternitie thereof 1 Christ shewes the sufficiencie thereof when he saith They haue Moses and the Prophets Againe search the scriptures bicause you thinke in them to hane eternall life And Paule Galat. 1 If any man shall teach any other Gospell let him be accurssed Esa 8 To the lawe and Testymonie you shall not adde neither shall you take from it his Deut 8 and in the 12. cha What I command you doe it thou shalt not adde nor diminish any thing 2 The truth of the scripture is proued by the wordes of Christ Iohn 8 Thy worde is truth Ioh. 2 The old and new Testament is true the true light now shineth Num 23 God is not as man that he should lie 3 The profit of the scripture is shewed by Paule Rom 15 Whatsoeuer things are written they are writtē for our learning that thorow patience comfort of the scripture we might haue hope 2 Tim. 3 all scripture in spired of God is profitable to teach c. 4 The authority thereof is in the laste of Luke all thinges must bee fulfilled which are written of me in Moses in the prophets and in the Psal 2 Pet. 1 Prophesie is not giuen by the will of man but holy men haue spoken as they haue beene mooued by the holy Ghost 5 The dignity thereof appeares Esa 55 as heauen is lifted vp from the earth so are my thoughts differing from your thoughts and Christ sayth giue not holy thinges to dogges neither caste yee pearles amongest swine 6 The eternity thereof as the worde of God abideth for euer And in Luke Heauen and earth shall passe but my word shal not passe Ioh. 16
which is not his seemeth to bee collected out of diuers places and containeth an amplification of thos thinges which are sufficientlye described in the firste Booke of Esdras so as it is not likely that Esdras woulde thrise repeâ—ts the same things But howsoeuer the matteâ— be these two last bookes as they are not 〈◊〉 Hebrue so seeme they for little vse Therefore let vs come to the bookes thâ—â— follow as 1. of Tobias 2. Iudith 3. Hester All which may bee reckoned among the bookes which are Historicall brief be running ouer them let vs see what especially they containe in them that may serue to edification The booke of Tobias THE booke of Tobias whether it bee a story or some deuised thing as it may seem to be a Comedy It hath his vse for it sheweth how it vsually falleth out to the religious countrey man oâ— any other that liueth in wedlocke namely that he is subiect to afflictions but the ende thereof is good So that such as are maried may here learne to haue patience in faith in hope of eternal life And thus the book of Tobias is a glasse for theÌ„ that are maried at the booke of Iesus Syrach is an instruction for an housholder There are 14. chapters in it which may thus be deuided if once we know that Tobias with other Israelites was in the time of Salmanaser king of the Assyrians caried captiue into Assyria and liued there with trouble and persecution amongst the wicked 1 From the beginning of the 5. chap is described Tobias the fathers or the Elders 1 His Religion 2 His Mariage 3 His Godlinesse 4 His Troble vnder Senacherib 5 His Carfulnes in butieng the godly deceased 6 His Blindnesse 7 His Praier 8 His Fatherly loue towards his sonne 9 His 2 From the 5. cha to the 13 are described Tobias the yonger 1 His going to Rages a city of the Medes to the house of Gamaliel 2 His Deliuerance froÌ„ a fish by the An. 3 His Mariage with Sara Raguels dau 4 His Praier 5 His Returne 6 His Curing of his father 7 His The departure of the Angell All which things do commend vnto vs the estate of Mariage as honorable Heb. 13. which is gouerned euen by Angels 3 From the 13 to the end is described old Toby 1 His Thankesgiuing 2 His Prophesyeng of Ierusalem 3 His Yeares 4 His Death 5 His Burial with the description of the destruction of Niniue the restoring of Ierusalem and of young Tobias reâ—nno to his owne his death c. Thus God disposeth of houshold affairs and is a comfort vnto the faithful which are maried in all their troubles The Booke of Iudith THe booke of Iudith is so called of Iudith and is reckoned amongst the Apocripha bookes for men doubt whether it be a story or some deuised matter as it hath the forme of a Tragedy But howsoeuer the case standeth it is a profitable book and was confirmed in the Nicen Synode to be accounted amongst the holy bookes of the Bible for it pointeth out the Tyrannie of the wicked and their feareful ouerthrow as also the confidence and victorye of the godly albeit they are exercised with afflictions It hath 16 chapters which are thus deuided First from the beginning to the â— châ— is contained first generally the victorye of Nabuchadnezar by his prince Holofernes Holofernes threats and wrath against the Israelites and lastly the Israelites resistaÌ„ce one while and feare another while as it comes to passe in the afflictions of the saintes thorow the weakenesse of the flesh the dyuell in his instruments rageth so greatly 2 From the 8 to the 13 is set foorth the constancy of Iudyth who was a widow and a Iewe of the Tribe of Symeon and hir hope of deliuerance 2 hir prayer 3 pollicy 4 hir successe 5 hir bolduesse in cutting off the tyrantes heade hir returne into the Citty of Bethulia so that wee may certainely conclude that God is as well able to saue with a few as with many as wel by women as by men that the victorye may be the Lords whose power in our weaknes is perfected 3 From the 13 to the end the Iewes do triumph for the victory their enimies being slaine they giue thanks to Iudith she vnto God and at length in a perfect age she ended this life Praise glorie honor be ascribed vnto God who in vanquishing the vngodly doth defend and preserue his elect by what meanes soeuer it be The Booke of Hester THe booke of Hester is so called of Hester a Iewish womaÌ„ whom Ahasuerus had taken to wife whoe otherwise was called Artaxerxes successor to Cirus in the Persian Empire For those things which are contained in this historye happened in the Persian Monarchy after the returne of the Iewes from Babylon but before the restoring of the people And God to preserue his people among whom Christ should be borne he did heere myraculously put away a danger which was intended against all the Iewes which as yet remained in Persia by this example to comfort them that returned home and incorage them confidently cheerfully to go forward in restoring that common-weale wherein Christ was to preach the Gosper and to begin his gouernment Now concerning the diuision of the book we must note that only the 9. sonner cha are in the hebrew and none of the rest vnto the end and therefore in Luthers-Dutch copy it is separated from the other part set by itselfe in the ende of the olde Testament Otherwise there are 16 chap as in the booke of Iudith which are diuided as it were in maner of a Comedy The first act might be vnto the 4. chapt wherin Queen Vasthi disobeying her husband is put away and Hestera most beautifull virgin is chosen Queene But by the aduancement of Haman and his deceit the Iewes doe mourne bicause that all of them were in danger of their liues by the letters that the kinge sent out againste them So may wee see by this example of Vasthi and Hester howe God doeth put downe the mighty from theyr seate and exalteth the humble and in Haman howe God for a time doth suffer tyrants to flourish and tyrannize that their fal and punishment may be the greater in the end The second acte is from the 4. chap to the 9 in which followeth a comfort by this Qu. Hester that beeing perswaded by Mardocheus his many prayers taketh vpon her the defence of the Iewes and bringeth Mardocheus into the kinges fauour whereby at length Hamans deceit beeing made knowne to the king hee is hanged and other letters contrarie to the former are sent foorth wherby the people of the Iewes are deliuered from danger of death and their mourning is turned into ioy that it might be verified of Haman which the Psalm speaketh He fell into the pit which hee made but of the Iewes the net is broken and we are deliuered The 3. Acte is in the 9. chap. concerning the
reuenge which the Iewes tooke partly on the sonnes of Haman and partly on other their enemies Thus farre goeth the storie in Hebrue The 4. Acte is of those things which are not in the Hebrue concerning Mardocheâ—â— dreame with the interpretation thereof of the letters published against the Iewes of Mardocheus prayer vnto the 14. cha The 5. Act to the end of the mourning and prayer of Hester of her sute to King Ahasuerus for the Iewes and letters sent foorth contrarye to the former of the sauing of the Iewes and of their appoynting of festiuall daies in remembrance of so great a benefit as God bestowed vppon the Iewes by Hester Ahasuerus and Mardocheus So God is now and alwayes present with his Church and people to helpe them at all neede Glorie bee to Christ for euermore Amen The booke of Iob. THe booke of Iob is named of Iob of whom is saide in the 14. of Ezech. If these three were in the middest of them Noce Daniell and Iob they in their owne righteousnes should deliuer their own soules saith the Lord of Hostes But who wrote this booke Moses as some thinketh or some other it is vncertaine Neither skilleth much to knowe it seeing it is out of question that this booke contayneth the words of the holy ghost The sum of the booke handleth this question Whither the righteons are afflicted of God or not Iob prooues by many firme arguments that God vseth to send manye afflictions to innocent and godlye men onelye for his owne glorie as Christ speaketh af a man borne blinde Iohn 9. But the friends of Iob impugn this sentence and they contend with him in many probable arguments that the godly are not afflicted of God but if they bee afflicted then it is for their sinnes This whole booke is spent betwixt Iob and his 4. friends at length God himselfe dissolues the controuersie This booke containes 42. chap which are thus deuided In the first three chapt is contained history of the diuers afflictions of Iob and the temptations of Sathan that first assailed Iobs children and his possessions but when he suffered all that most patiently at leÌ„gth he set vpon his owne person whereby hee was made so vnpatient thorowe the greatnesse of griefe that he did not onely horribly cursse the day of his natiuity but also praise death before this life where it is to be obserued how diligently sathan persisteth in temptation vntil he make man horribly to sinne against God From the 4 chap vnto the 8 is described the firste disputation betwixt Iob and his friende Eliphaz the Themanite the argument that Eliphaz propounded againste Iob to wit God punisheth men onely for their sinnes Iob answered that he tooke it not to be so and he complaineth of the troblesomnesse of his friendes that they didde more terrifie him then comfort him From the 8 chap to the 11 is written the second Shuhite disputation betwixte Iob and his second friende Bildad concerning the same argument that God punnisheth Iob for his sinnes the which Iob againe denyeth to bee so with a complaint that he did not know the cause of his affliction From the 11 vnto the 15 followes the 3. disputation concerning the same argumeÌ„t betwixt Iob his third friend Zophar the Naamathite to whom Iob did propounde this question Wherfore are good men somtimes in distresse 5. and afterwards he vnfoldeth the question or argument and at length bewails all mens myserie on earth From the 15 vnto the 22 againe Iobs three friendes begin in order to dispute against him First Eliphaz accuseth Iob to be a sinner the which Iob denieth not and then reproues Eliphaz and his fellowes saiing that they were badde comforters Secondly Bildad as he had before saith that God vseth to punish the wicked for theyr sinnes with many plagues he would infer Iob to be wicked because he is much punished of God Iob answereth that his fortitude strength was in the graue Thirdly Zophar alledgeth that it goeth wel with wicked menne but not long and laboureth to prooue that Iob is such a one Iob shewes the contrary to be true in euery part that is to wit that it goeth long well with the wicked in this life but that hee is not wicked From the 22 vnto the 32 Iobs 2 friends Eliphas and Bildad did yet more vehemeÌ„tly set vpon him with the same opinion repliyng herewith according to mans reason as they did before but in vaine was it Iob standeth with a setled minde although hee lay in great mysery Somtimes he teacheth them and sometimes hee addes his complaintes sometimes he purgeth himselfe before his friendes that he was of an vnblameable life From the 32 to the end God himselfe at length doth preach before Iob rehearsing all the works of his power minding to teach him that he was vniustly accused of him Vpon the which sermon in the laste chap Iob repenteth and is restored to his perfection for an example to vs all of true repentance So much concerning the booke of Iob In which was handled concerning the suffering of the saints and of the impatience of flesh and bloud which God pardoneth in his saintes thankes be to God for euer The Psalmes of Dauid PSalmes hath his name or deriuation of singing because it is written in verse to sing More anciently it is called a priuate speaking because that an only speech was had betwixte God himselfe and Christians only It is called a little Bible because it containeth briefly all that is in the Bible As for example 1 Histories 2 Lawe 3 Promises 4 Faith 5 Consolations 6 Repentance Dauid a King and Prophet is the author of the Psalmes the holy Ghost speaking in him Matth. 22 How doth Dauid in spirit call him Lord. There are of the Psalmes in number 150 which are to be deuided 3. maner of waies The first deuision Some are properly called Psalmes others are called Hymnes They are Psalmes as long or as often as Dauid dooth desire any thing of God They are called Hymnes when as he giuer God thanks for a benefit receiued The second deuision The Psalmes according to the Hebrues are deuided into 5. bookes which are discerned or known in the vulgar edition by these notes or marks Amen Amen or So be it So be it The first booke containeth 41. Psalmes which are al Dauids whence all the psalmes are ascribed to him this first book continueth vnto this psal As the Hart desireth the water brooks c. The 2 Book containeth 31 psal which are ascribed in the beginning to the sonnes of Chore being singers they are al Dauids except one of Asaph the last Salomons and this second book continueth vnto this Psalm How good is God vnto Israel The third booke containeth 17 Psalm of which 11 are to bee ascribed to Asaph â—hree to the sonnes of Chore one to Dauid and the two latter are ascribed to two other â—ingers The fourth booke also containeth 17 Psalmes of
the which the first 9. are attributed to Moses the seruant of God the rest are Dauids and this booke doeth last vnto the 107 Psalme Praise ye the Lord. The fift Booke containes 45. Psalmes of the which many are attributed to Dauid in the meane time some of them being vncertaine for the hearers they are marked sometimes before the Psalme sometimes after and sometimes in both places by this Hebrew word HALLELVIA so as it seemeth to be a giuing of thankes to God for such a Psalme The Author is not known And this 5. booke continueth vnto the end of the Psalter The third diuision All the Psalmes are 5 folde to wit 1 Praiers 2 Giuing of thanks 3 Consolations 4 Prophesies 5 Doctrines 1 All the Psalmes are praiers in which something is sought of God as this Beâ— merciful vnto me O God c. Again Heâ—â— vs O god c. Again Lord in thy wrath c 2 All the Psalmes are Thankesgiuings it which we do giue thanks vnto God for be benefits receiued as this O praise yee the Lord c. 3 Al the Psalms are consolations in which we comfort one another as this Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen Blessed is the man 4 Al the Psalmes are propheticall in the which the Messias is foretold with his kingdome his resurrection and ascension as O Lord our God God shall arise and the Gentiles c. 5 All the Psalmes are Doctrinall which continueth histories and instructions or reformations of manners As beholde howe good and pleasant c. He that dwelleth in the closet of the most highest and doth reâ—â—anâ—e in the shadow of the almighty Vnlesse the Lord build the house c. Againe by the riuers of Babylon Besides all these there are sundry and diuers vses of the Psalmes As for example 1 So often as thy hart is heauy 2 So often as thou art destitute of mans helpe 3 So often as thou art oppressed by thy enemy 4 So often as thou art molested by the eues 5 So often as thou art inforced to exilement or driuen into banishment 6 So often as thou art in daunger of laiyng await of others 7 So often as thou art depriued of wife chil 8 So often as thou art oppressed with pouerty 9 So often as thou art ouergrown with diseases 10 So often as thou art pressed with enuy 11 So often as thou art had in contempt 12 So often as thou art deposed or put out of of But it is to be obserued that the vulgar edition hath erred in the numbring of the Psalmes Therefore they are to be numbred according to the Hebrue truth This is to bee obserued that Dauid is painted and set forth with his harpe bicause of those Psalmes as from him playing or singing vpon the Harpe The Books of Salomon the K. Three bookes are attributed to Salomon Prouerbes Ecclesiastes Canticles Which thus among themselues are to diuid 1. Prouerbs for young men 2. Eccle. for men of stayed yeares 3. Cant. for old men The booke of the Prou. doth contaiâ— doctrine concerning obedieÌ„ce coÌ„cerninâ— good workes manners withthe which christian young man is adorned Eccles containeth doctrine concerning the crosse and consolations in temptation with the which they are aflicted and tempted that are setled full growne in religion and godlines The Cant. are certaine pleasant sweeâ— thanksgiuings with the which the godly that are ready to departe from hence in full age doe ascribe all that power vnto God by which they haue beene heere lustained The Booke of the prouerbs THe booke of the Prou besides this that it contayneth most excellent sentences in which it teacheth partlye the feare of God and faith in God partlye honest maners conuersations in this life He hath a most excellent Oration by the name of wisdome concerning the eternall word of God by the which all thinges are made gouerned that is Iesus Christ our Lord. This booke is diuided after this maner From the beginning vnto the 10 châ— there are certaine common exhortations by way of preface to those things that teache a christian man as are exhortations to wisdome discipline knowledge honestie and perfectnes in the 1. chap In the 2. chap to heare and learne the word of God with promises thereunto anexed In the 3. chap to beleeue the word of God and to vse rightlie our goods possessions to suffer aduersitie in the crosse In the 4 chap to obey parents promises being added In the 5. chap exhortations to chastitie against adulterie and fornication In the 6 chap. to must in God contrarie to the confidence in man and againe to labour in youth In the 7 chap to concord and chastitie against adulterie and that most sharpely In the 8. 9 chap. He comeÌ„ds wisdome excellently that is to say the word of God and thus far the preface From the 10 vnto the 25 he sets downe prouerbs or sentences in euery chapt there are many and diuers sorts which cannot be aptly reduced into any head From the 25 to the 30 chap doth folow prouerbs which are attributed to Salomon but were taken perchance out of a certaine booke by Sela and some other writers of king Ezechiah In the last two chap there are the Prouerbs of Salomon but vnder strange titles As Agur and Lamuell in which wordes it is thought that Salamon is called First of gathering because he gathered such Prouerbes After that from the presence of God because God was with Israell in the daies of Salomon The booke which is called Ecclesiastes THe second booke of Salomon called Ecclesiastes because Salomon was called Eccles that is to say A preacher Or else because he speakes to a multitude and not to one onely or for his wisdome with the which he was plentiously indued This booke seekes in euery kind of life institutioÌ„ of men sure felicity in this world but he findes nothing but vanity Therefore at length he comes and pronounceth that nothing is better for manne then to feare God and to keepe his commandements that whatsoeuer shal happen in this world yet man should remain in the iudgment of God But because these things cannot bee without Christ therefore this booke as the rest doth send the Reader vnto Christ There are 12. chap which are thus to be deuided From the beginning vnto the 8. cha instructing men of a ripe age he teacheth that in earthly thinges there is nothing euerlasting but momentany altogether short whatsoeuer we do see and he condemns al men that put their felicity any where else but in God For after his preface which haÌ„d leth the nature of thinges He condemnes 1 the Wisedome 2 the Ioy. 3 the Vnstablenesse 4 the violeÌ„ce reproch 5 the babling chat 6 the Couetousnesse 7 the shortnes of the daies of this life From the 8 cha vnto the end he sets forth wisedome with her effects and afterwards with the fruits to wit True repentance Amendement of life Almes-deedes
Iudah in the year 756 vpoÌ„ the departure of Iuda 663. in the same captiuity of Iudah in the yeare 598. 10 Ieremy A little after vnder Manasses the king of Iudah in the year 756 vpoÌ„ the departure of Iuda 663. in the same captiuity of Iudah in the yeare 598. 11 Sophony A little after vnder Manasses the king of Iudah in the year 756 vpoÌ„ the departure of Iuda 663. in the same captiuity of Iudah in the yeare 598. 12 Ezechi A little after vnder Manasses the king of Iudah in the year 756 vpoÌ„ the departure of Iuda 663. in the same captiuity of Iudah in the yeare 598. Daniell A little after vnder Manasses the king of Iudah in the year 756 vpoÌ„ the departure of Iuda 663. in the same captiuity of Iudah in the yeare 598. Hagg. Zacha. Mallach After the returne of the people of Babilon 559. Concerning the Booke of Hosea the Prophet OSeas by the Etimologie of his name signifieth Health and therefore he maried his lawfull wife according to Gods comaundement but with such a reproche as that she is called his harlot so comes it to passe that the worlde doth rage against the Ministers of Gods worde Therefore God forbidde that wee shoulde thinke the Prophet to liue in Fornication In the beginning of his Sermons he betrotheth Israel to the Lorde our God in iustice in iudgment in mercy and pittie and reconciles them to Dauid their king and so he calles Christ as being borne of the loynes of Dauid In the end he threatneth the destruction of Death with great feruencie I will saith he be thy Death Oh Death I will be thy Death for euer In the meane time he doth preach most feruently constaÌ„tly against Israell against the Idollatrie of the Princes and Priestes of the people Afterwardes he prophecieth very power-fully concerning the kingdome of Christ These two thinges were the offices duties of all the prophets the one out of the Law the other out of the promises for the which they were brought to their death as heretikes and seditious persons From the beginning to the 14. chap there are prophesies and sermons of reproofe against the kingdome of Israell because for Idolatrie which he calleth spirituall Fornication not onely the people but also Princes and priestes are to be punished of God with corporall eternall captiuitie vnlesse they repent he mittigateth these Comminations with the promises of God that they shoulde not dispâ—ire but conuert vnto god Also in the 2.3.11.12.14 there are prophecies and comfortable sermons concerning the kingdome of Christ the preching of the Gospell and the victories of Christe ouer Death and Hell together with the Eternall captiuitie of the people of Israell their restoring by faith in the mercies of god through Christ The booke of Ioel the Proph. JOEL by the Etimologie of his name signifieth begining or desiring Who hee was of what Tribe in what time or vnder what king he liued it is vncertaine chieflie because he himselfe maketh no mencion of this vnlesse it be for that he is thought to liue with Osea and Amos whilest he preacheth against the kingdome of Israel Hee labours only to shew how punishments plagues hang ouer the earth for innumâ—rable sins greuous wickednes WheÌ„ce S. Peter on the feast of Penticost tooke occasion to preach act 2. And Saint Paul allegeth the saying of Ioel in the 2. chap. euerie one that calleth on the name of the lord shall be saued Rom 10. In the 1. chapt he prophecieth against the kingdome of Israel to weet it woulde come to passe that Israel should be carried away into Syrâ—a He vnderstaÌ„deth the Assâ—â—ians by these 4. kinde of wormes deuouring smite and Corne to weet the Palmer worme The Grasse-hopper The Canker worme and the Caterpiller shewing the vnpeâ—pling and deuastacion by litle litle of the kingdome of Israel In the 2. 3. after he had sore-shewed vnto the king of Assirta his destruction he propheâ—â—eth euen vnto the end of the kingdome of Christ of the holy Ghost and of the celestiall Ierusalem In that he speaketh of the Valley of Iehosophat in the last cha He seemeth not only that it ought to be vnderstoode of the eternall Iudgment but also of the church of Christ as the valley of Achor in Osea in the which the Gentiles were adiudged to bee sinners and are called to repentance by the word of God the holy Ghost reproues the world of sinne The booke of Amos. AMos by the etymology of his name signifieth a burthen or yoke and he answereth more then all the prophets thorow his vehemency to the singularity of his name He reproues the Israelits throughout all his booke and doth inuey against them although a stranger amongst them as one born in the tribe of Iudah nor so much as the sonne of a prophet but a shepheard an ordinary man as he himselfe witnesseth in the 2. chap. But hee liued in the time of Osea and Esay as GOD is of power to call suche by a suddaine or certaine diuine miracle against all wicked powers which they call ordinarie where necessitie requireth Euen so the holy Ghost made A postles of rude and vnlearned Fishers It is thought that Amos was slaine by a wicked priest called Amasia with a Fullers clubbe ¶ The chapters of this booke are ix which are thus to be distinguished From the beginning vnto the 4. chapt he prophecieth agâ—inst the neighbours of the Iewes and of the Israelites who were the kinges of Syria the kinges of Palestina of Tire of Edome of Amon Meab c. saith that it will come to passe that they also should be punished of God againe Afterwardes he prophecieth against the kinges of Israell and Iuda with an admonition that they shoulde not contempne the prophets of God From the 4. chap. to the 7. he prophecieth against the kingdome of Israell threatneth horrible thinge to come vnto them from God 1. Famine 2. Dearth 3. Pestilence 4. Botch 5. the sword and lastly vtter distructioÌ„ by the Assirians in the meane time whilest he reproues their sinnes he exhorteth them to repentance by the deuastation of the Assirians From the 7 chap. to the ende besides 3. visions which he sawe against the King of Israell to weet 1. the Locustes the fire and the Line or rule vpon the Wall hee contendes with the wicked prest Amasiah to whom he promiseth horrible mischiefe Afterwardes he preacheth against the couetousnes of the rich and the oppression of the poore In the ende hee addeth a most excellent place concerning the kingdome of the Mesiah which is cited of Iames the Apostle Act. 15. As also a place is cited of Stephen in the 5. chap Act. 7. But that which he speakes in the 1. chap. of 3. and 4. sinnes he vnderstandeth the greatnes and the multitude of sin the impatiencie and defence thereof 3. and 4. makes 7. which is a Finall or indefinit number in holy Scripture
out the buiers and sellers out of the temple Secondly hee disputeth with the pharises and seuerally with Nichodemus and hauing by and by left Ierusalem first Baptised by his Apostles vppon which occasion Iohn the Baptist preached a most excellent Sermon concerning Christ afterwardes passing thorow Samaria he disputed at the Well with the Samaritan womi Last of all returning into Galile he healed the Rulers sonne The second iourney begins in the 5. ch and lasteth vnto the 7. In which iourney first he healed a man in Ierusalem on the Sabbaoth day by the poole of Bethesday which had been diseased 38. yeares wheÌ„â—e as hauing fit occasion he had long disputation against the Iewes hee preached a most excellent sermon concerning the resurrection of the dead and of the authority of scriptures Afterward returning into Galily first of all he satisfied 5000. men with fiue loues and two fishes And afterwardes he disputed very long with the Iewes concerning the spirituall bread which is the word of God Last of all when others taking an offence departed from him Peter in the name of the apostles made a most excellent confession of his faith concerning Christ The third he beginneth in the 7. chapt and continueth vnto the 12. chapter In which chiefly hee taught in the Temple of Ierusalem not without contradiction and perill First concerning the authority of his doctrine Secondlye concerning the Sabbaoth Thirdly concerning his owne person Fourthlye concerning his sufferinge Fiftly concerning the water of life Then he absolueth the woman taken in adultery which was brought vnto him by the Pharisies with writing on the earth with his finger Straight way hee taught the people and vnto the end of the eight chapter he disputed sharply againste the Iewes By and by hee gaue sight to one that was borne blinde whence no small contention did arise betwixt the Pharisies and him that was borne blinde vnto the end of the ninth chap. Here hee shewes himselfe to be the true pastour wherein againe he fals into disputation with the Iewes vnto the end of the tenth chapter And last of all passing ouer Iordan and thence againe to Bethania hee raised vp Lazarus first hauing hadde disputation with his sisters and afterwardes appeased the wrath and euill mind of the Iewes he went into the desart The fourth he begins in the 12. chapt and continues vnto the end of the booke in the which first he turnes and directeth into Bethania where as Marye the Sister of Lazarus that was raised from Death shewed the worke of her confession vnto Christ Iudas the betrayer beeing angrye thereat Afterwardes according to the prophesie of Zacharias the Prophet hee entred into Ierusalem meeke sitting vppon an asse And when as Iohn had set foorth what thinges were done in the way alleaging many moste excellent places out of Esar Vnto the ende of the 12. chapt in the next places he declares what was doone in the Inne at Ierusalem in the holy supper of Christ to wit Howe Christ after the washing of their feet after the disturbaÌ„ce of his minde for Iudas And furthermore after hee had foreshewed the trecherye of Iudas and the deniall of Peter vnto th' end of the chapt First of all hee makes an excellent sermon through three whole chap. Whose proposicion is this Let not your hearts be troubled The arguments wherof are three First yee shall prophesie eternall life 2 In the meane time the Holy ghost shal comfort you 3 My father shall heare you Then he addes a most effectual praier to his holy and iust father First for his owne glorification 2 for the defence of his disciples 3 For all the beleeuers in the true doctrine that they should be gouerned and preserued in the vnity of spirite To this the Euangelist describeth the passion of Christ In the 18. 19. chap. First how for the saluation of mankind he was betrayed of his owne disciple Iudas 2 He was accused of the Iewes 3 He was fixed to the Crosse by the Gentiles In the two last chapters the Euangelist makes vp the story with the resurrection of Christ and such thinges as happened afterwards In one chapter hee describes the apparisions of Christ beeing made in Iudea before his disciples and others Whence at length as is testified in the other Euangelist and in the other his appearinges to his disciples in Galily Hee went into heauen where now hee raignes equal with his fa eternal in power whence he shortly shal returne to iudge the quicke and the dead and shal wipe away al tears from the eies of his elect So much concerning the Gospel of S. Iohn the Euangelist and Apostle The Acts of the Apost THis Historicall booke Luke the holy Euangelist hath written and it conteyneth the principall historie of the Primatiue church after the Assention of Christ which doeth followe the bookes of the Euangelist after a conuenient order Although this booke may be deuided principally into 2. partes to wit the acts of Peter and into the acts of Paul done after the assention of Christ for Luke hath chieflie described 1. the Sermons 2. the workes 3. the Visions 4. the Miracles 5. the imprisonments of Peter and after that the conuersion of Paule his peregrinations his disputatioÌ„s his miracles his bonds and imprisonments yet for all that the 28. chapters of this booke may very profitably be thus deuided From the beginning vnto the sixt chapter Luke doeth first describe the histories of Christes ascention secondly the election of Mathias for an Apostle thirdly the sending of the holy Ghost then the foure most excellent and fruitfull sermons of Peter concerning Christ The first in the second chapter the second in the third the third in the fourth the fourth in the fifte chapters with the two most singuler miracles that were done by Peter the Apostle to weet the healing of a lame man and of the sodeine death of Ananias and Saphira and last of all concerning the fellowship of the Apostles their imprisonmeÌ„ts their persecutions their praier and constancie From the sixt chapter vnto the 13. Besides the history of the conuersion of Saint Paul chap 9. is described after the election of Deacons the sermon and Martyrdome of Stephen and also the historie of Symon Magus and the conuersion of the Eunuke by Phillip the Apostle which two doth make difference betwixt the true and false christians Afterwardes is continued the historie of the miracles of Saint Peter in healing of Eneas and the raising of Tabitha secondly of the vision thirdly of the calling fourthly of the going forwarde fiftlye of the preaching to Cornelius of the vocation of the gentiles last of all not onely the disputing of Peter with the Iewes for the vocation of the gentiles by the repetition of the historie concerning Cornelius but also his imprisonmentes vnder HEROD and his miraculous deliuerance the tyrant being stricken and consumed of wormes by the mighty power of God faithfully orderly are set downe From the 13.